The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-02-03
SWEETENED BITTERNESS

SWEETENED BITTERNESS
The town is ringing with the very
startling news OF Lady Mary Chef.
wode's elopement.
" That she, the beautiful, highly-gift-
ed, accomplished woman, sister Of
their respected lord, should bring such
disgrace upon the ever-stainless name
of Chetwode is abhorrent to it.
If it had been anyone but Sir Harry
Blake things might have been differ
.ent, as we'll as forgotten and forgiven,
but the circumstances are really too
awful.
"a married mani" So walls the
county, as they lift up their eyes and
clasp their hands as if in despair, when
in reality half OF them rejoice in the
thought that this brilliant beauty
has disappeared from their midst,
giving a chance to their faded daugh.
tiers; and the expectant widows, how
they inwardly laughed in their joy!
"Poor Lady Maryv" says Lady
Charters while speaking to her hus,
band a few days after the affair.
"Who would have thought it?"
depend upon it, my dear, every
body knows their own business BEST -
answers Sir Charles. "Change OF air
is beneficial to every one"
II wonder you can talk with such
levity, Charles! Change OF air. indeed!"
And, gathering up her skirts, my lady
glides with much dignity from the
room.
Sir Charles leans back with a sigh OF
decided relief rs the door closes.
"These ugly women" he says, chow
they love a scandal-especially when
it's about a pretty woman! Pretty,
did l say?-egad, she is a queen!"
That Lady Mary should be con-
on all sides goes without tell.
ing.
How long she had struggled against
her fate, and how vainly, with all her
woman's wit, had she attempted to
evade the urgent appeals made by Sir
Harry from day to day!
Poor love, more sinned against than
SHINING, how hopelessly had she tried
to hide hef unconquerable love! All
her inward wrestling told for her not
at all.
1t was of no avail; Sir Harry was
merclless-when were the Blakes other
wise? Seeing the depth of her affec-
ton, he worked upon her sensitive
nature and truly loving heart, and,
with many. f1attering words and high
ly romantic speeches, played out his
part in the drama of her life, and i'm.
ploring her to fly with him, at last
gained her consent.
One memorable night, while all the
household were sleeping, two people
stepped from the library Of Chetwode
Manor, and went forth to meet their
doom.
Alas! how soon one OF them felt it's
bitterness! "Truly evil is wrought
by want Of thought"
Would sir Harry have been so reck-
lessly happy if he could have seen into
the future? 1 think not. Surely he
would have hesitated before he had
taken that fatal step. and ponder ere
he made her u~ntarnished name the
topic of public conversation. But
there are many such, who forget how
miserable are the effects Of their sell
fishness, and remember not that "the
evil men do lives after them"
III VNI4 n 1n~rN IS ,oicol for I'D n1nr f~s
many and many a mile. From Chef
wode grooms are sent out on every
side to each adjacent station for It'd
ings of the missing beauty.
Her brother, Lord Chetwode, is dis
tracted. He can neither eat nor rest.
1t Is indeed as if his one ewe-lamb had
been stolen from it's fold, and had left
an empty space, eve to be refilled
for him, unless she returns soon and
alone. And then, should this be so,
he will open his arms to receive her,
and the past shall be forgotten by
them both as if it had never been; but
if disappointed in this hope, he will
follow them from place to place, he
tells himself, and have revenge upon
Sir Harry, whose treachery makes
him tremble with suppressed rage.
There is SO little comfort in remem-
bering how lcvable she was, and
Unfortunately, "praising
what is lost, makes the memory of it
more dear" far dearer than when we
possessed it.
= \
The lamps r cleaning, voices are
low and hushed.
The gamblers are busy round the
tables. Some are flushed with excess
of luck; others, with ashen faces, are
down their last coin; and as
they see it swept.in by the rake of the
croupier, rise from the table, and try
to assume utter ca~relessness, leave
the room. perhaps to seek death
outside.
Lounging into the ~gold-room. his